Our legs hurt!

First few days in Rome have been awesome!  Most of the locations we are seeing for a second time and enjoying them even more.

·         Campo dei  Firori – A crazy busy outside market with every kind of vendor imaginable.  It is awesome!

·         Trevi Fountain – Rumor has it that if you throw coins into the fountain you will get to return to Rome.  AND I know for a fact that it works because I threw my penny in four years ago and here we are!

·         Travestevere  - A great neighborhood full of shops and excitement.  

·         Spanish Steps - Ffilled with cute teenagers waiting to meet other cute teenagers.

·         Colloseum – No, we didn’t see any gladiators but we did see it “lit on fire” at night for an art exhibition.  Spectacular!

·         Pantheon – Domed temple that you can’t miss.

·         Roman Forum – The main square for Ancient Rome.

·         And many piazzas - All gorgeous and worthy of wine and lingering!  We sure will miss that 12:00 wine in a piazza!

Our legs are sooooo exhausted and our cheeks hurt from smiling. 

Italian Wine Recommendation

Leone 09 Tesca D'Almarita. 
http://www.cellartours.com/italy/italian-wineries/tasca-d-almerita-winery.html

85% Catarratto and 15% Chardonnay. Aged in French oak + additional time in bottle, combined 6 months, no Malolactic, 12.5% alc.

Delicious!

Our New Home in Rome

In 2005 we visited Rome for 3 nights and I fell in love.  On that trip we did a majority of the main tourist sites and took a private tour of the ruins.  We stayed at the Marriott near the Spanish Steps, in the heart of the action.  It was an incredible trip not to mention my very first trip to Europe – thanks to Jeff.

Apartment in Rome

This time we decided to rent an apartment off the beaten path.  Jeff used VRBO to find the apartment.  Words can’t describe how perfect this place is…it is in a neighborhood called Testaccio, which is close to the metro station and bus route so you can get to the “action” spots quickly but enjoy the true Italian neighborhood feel.  The apartment itself has everything from air conditioning to internet…and it is very spacious.  Top that off with cute neighborhood bars and restaurants and it is PERFECT!  Plus, it was about a third of the price of a hotel in Rome.  www.vrbo.com/296050 (+39 340 469 5687)

Testaccio Food Market

We have been to the Testaccio Food Market twice (an outdoor market about one block away) so we could have a couple of “home-cooked meals” and  we found the Volpetti  which is filled with meats and cheese and everything Italian.  And the best part is that the Gelatto shop is right next door to our apartment! 

Prison Break

After another disco-filled evening of no sleep and bug bites I woke to Jeff riffling around in the kitchen.  "Honey, what are you doing" I lazily asked.  "GETTING US OUT OF HERE" was his answer.  I have never loved my husband more!

Immediately we began packing,  Jeff called to get our Rome apartment 2 nights early, we drove to Bari to return the car and hopped a flight to Rome.  By 2pm we were in Rome and about as happy as 2 people can be!

Tid Bits for Traveling to Italy

·         Here are a few things we picked up ...

      “Il Conto” means the “the bill” which you must ask for as they will not rush you ever – US could learn a thing or two from that one!  Add “Per Piacere which sounds like  knoto pehr pyah-chaireh to add a “Please” to the request.  I must be honest and say that we can only get as far as “It Conto”.

Know the names of every possible meat and fish…trust me, this will keep you from a mouth  full of horse meat or octopus if that is not your meal of choice.

·         The bathroom is a toilette…my use of “banyo” did not immediately ingratiate me.  And it is “Graizie” pronounced grahtsee-eh NOT Gracias….again, a slip that did not make me popular.

·         To order a local wine it is “Mezzo Rosso Locale” and only once have we wished for a different wine.

·         Showers are either not existent or very small…seriously small!  Rooms are small too but I think that is "cute".

     When you head to the trains, metro etc be sure to carry 5 euros on you - most ticket machines will not make change for over 4 euros.

·         If you can do it…pack a carry-on and travel light.  While I have to say that I am SICK of my clothing right now, I am also very happy not to cart it down cobble-stone streets and up the stairs onto trains!

     Use Ciao Darcy (www.ciaodarcy.com) to avoid a trip like Metaponto!

Wine Lesson 201

Aglianico is the wine variety of choice in Southern Italy.  It is a beautiful red (rosso) that you can find at almost every restaurant and wine bar. 

We will definitely pay attention to this varietal when we are back in Arizona!

Matera is a must-see!

Matera is a about a 40 minute drive from our timeshare. Matera is incredible and a must-see.  Portions of  “Passion of the Christ” were filmed in Matera.   When we rounded the corner I was absolutely overwhelmed by the Sassi .  These cave dwellings have been converted and extended into homes.  A system of canals regulates the water and sewage.  The Sassi has been declared a Unesco World Heritage site.  Walking through the Sassi, we were amazed by the homes, the churches, the beauty, the history and the complexity.  Again, this is a must-see in my book as no picture can do it justice!

After our walk through Matera we found a restaurant that had been a trip advisor favorite…thank you to whoever posted this place on trip advisor because it was wonderful and we would have never found it on our own.  The restaurant was Il Borghese and the highlight of the meal was Antipasto Della Casa…which is basically the “house” antipasto favorites.  What they did with eggplant is decadent!

After a nap we went to meet up with a group of Americans that will now be gathering nightly for a cocktail and to speak English.  Must say that after 3 weeks of Italian, German and who knows what….I am really loving their voices.  And small world, they are all from Seattle.